THE MOST REALISTIC SURGICAL SIMULATION MODEL TO GAIN SKILLS IN LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY IS THE CADAVERIC MODEL THIEL, ACCORDING TO OPINIONS OF DIFFERENT SPECIALIST SURGEONS

Abstract INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic procedures are still a challenge for the surgeon residents and young surgeon physicians. Different learning systems have been used without achieving a realism faithful to the lived in the operation room. All existing surgical simulation systems should be compared, with the aim of identifying the most realistic of them, for improving the surgical learning. MATERIAL AND METHODS An 18-item survey was sent to different specialized surgeons (general surgeons, gynecologists and urologists) who participated in international postgraduate laparoscopic surgery courses on cadavers embalmed by Thiel method. Participants were asked to the differences and improving skills in each surgical procedure, about the different surgical simulation models that the participants had already used. Surgeons were asked if they would recommend doing it during residency to improve their confidence in the operating room. RESULTS Attendees (n = 104) had a response rate of 92% (96 replies). The 91.8% surgeons recognized that Thiel model was more realistic than others simulation methods. The 97.9 % of respondents believed that had improved their surgical skills. Globally, 96.9% (93) of the participants surveyed recommended the conducting of these courses with Thiel cadavers to different colleagues of other specialties as a reliable simulation measure during the residency period. CONCLUSIONS Participants in the laparoscopic surgery course on the cadaver Thiel recognized that this is more realistic surgical simulation model than conventional models, one of the best ways to gain confidence and improve laparoscopic skills in operation room for inexperienced surgeons.